Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN INDIA, SHIP TO SHIP  OPERATIONS OF LPG UNDERTAKEN BY SYAMA PRASAD MOOKERJEE PORT, KOLKATA  AND BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED  AT SANDHEADS
Kolkata, 17th October, 2021
The restricted draft in the river channel necessitates offloading of part cargo at neighbouring ports before calling at Haldia Dock Complex  or Kolkata Dock System  of Sysma Prasad Mookerjee Port Kolkata . Consequent to two port discharge, vessels incur dead freight and additional steaming time. To obviate the inherent channel constraints, SMP Kolkata has endeavoured to open up opportunity for importers to bring in Cape Size or Baby Cape vessels at the deep drafted anchorages located at Sagar, Sandheads and X Point and enable handling of fully laden dry bulk vessels through deployment of Floating Cranes or ship cranes. Over the years good number of dry bulk vessels have been handled at the lighterage points.
Due to the strategically advantageous location, HDC has witnessed incremental demand from trade in terms of catering to LPG, imported POL products and other liquid cargo. The gradual increase in the volumes of LPG imports at HDC is observed. In financial year 2016-17, the quantity of LPG import was 20,22,520 MT. The quantity in 2020-21 reached at 48,48,193 MT.
HDC, SMP, Kolkata took a pioneering initiative to explore Ship–to-Ship  Operations of LPG within its limits to handle fully laden vessels and requested Customs Authorities to allow such operations. Matter was pursued with Customs and they kindly considered the request and issued necessary permission on 26.04.2021 allowing such STS Operations. Further, to promote lighter age operations in general, SMP Kolkata extended substantial discount in terms of vessel and cargo related charges and an additional concession towards Tug Hire Charges was extended by the port specifically for STS Operation at Sandheads.
As a result of this pioneering initiative, the first ever STS Operations of LPG in Indian Coast was undertaken by BPCL on 15th October, 2021. BPCL engaged service provider M/s Fendercare Marine to render the services at the offshore STS location.
The Mother vessel MT YUSHAN with a parcel load of 44551 MT cargo carried out STS operation with Daughter Vessel MT HAMPSHIRE at Sandheads. The cargo operation commenced at 1248 hrs. on 15.10.20121 and completed at 0606 hrs. on 16.10.2021. Thus, within a short span of around 17 hrs., a quantity of 23051 MT of cargo was transferred to the daughter vessel.
The STS Operation for BPCL was earlier done at Male and by doing STS Operation at HDC, BPCL will save valuable foreign exchange. This Operation at HDC reduces the time taken for a daughter vessel by 7-9 days from BPCL’s other location for STS operations which consequently entailing savings of around US $ 3,50,000 per voyage on account of BPCL.
For this unique achievement Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata thanked trade partners, officers and staff for their excellent support and hard work put in this endeavour despite the devastating impact of COVID-19.
CG/CB/
Photo Caption:- The Mother vessel MT YUSHAN with a parcel load of 44551 MT cargo carried out Ship To Ship operation with Daughter Vessel MT HAMPSHIRE at Sandheads, Bay of Bengal
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